Saitama reached out, clamped a hand on a Sentinel's shoulder, and squeezed. Metal cracked; the joint pulverized.
"Hey. Put him down."
An alarm blared from the robot's speaker. "Damage to Sentinel detected. Current target classified: ordinary human. Authorization to retaliate requested—processing."
In the blink of an eye, every Sentinel in the corridor pivoted toward him.
The only reason they hadn't attacked Saitama earlier was simple: no X-gene in his body. If he'd carried the X-gene, they would've rushed him at once.
In short, this whole mess was a case of Charles being too clever for his own good. The Sentinels hadn't come for them at first; he'd told Saitama to make a scene outside. If Saitama drew out the enemy, the infiltration would go smoother. What Charles didn't know was that once Trask saw Saitama rampaging in the street, he immediately deployed Sentinels to capture the "subject" for study.
Outside, the machines found no trace of an X-gene. By their scans, the anomaly was inside the building. So they poured into the sublevels—and boxed everyone in.
"Authorization granted. Neutralize the opponent—condition: render target incapable of movement." With that verdict, a Sentinel cocked its arm back and drove a fist at Saitama's face.
Saitama caught the punch without looking, tightened his fingers, and popped the forearm like a crisp twig.
"That's it?" he said, sounding bored.
The other units raised both hands. Palms split open; thick barrels extended. "Hostile detected. Commencing attack."
A storm of heavy rounds roared forth. Saitama's outline flickered. By the time Charles and the others registered what was happening, every robot in the hall lay heaped in the corners—limbs twisted, optics dark. They weren't human; Saitama didn't need to hold back for anyone's feelings.
Charles stared at him, relief breaking across his face. Magneto… was simply stunned.
Utterly stunned.
How could a mutant this powerful exist?
No—if…
"Wait… Charles." Magneto's eyes narrowed. "Is this the 'world-threatening' mutant you warned me about years ago?"
If Charles hadn't been lying back then, this bald man might be the Omega-level they'd only ever discussed as theory.
"Hey, Professor—are you okay?" Saitama tilted his head.
Charles pushed himself up, shaking it off. The Sentinels hadn't actually struck him—he was more shaken by what he'd just seen. Saitama felt more and more unfathomable by the second.
"But why are Sentinels here already? You said—"
He broke off in a fit of coughing. His injuries weren't as bad as Hank's, but even one direct hit from a Sentinel left him reeling.
"I dunno," Saitama said. "Maybe there's a Mark I and Mark II or whatever? Like when Genos swaps bodies and gets new parts."
"It's possible," Charles said, frown deepening. "But right now, how do we get out?"
"Leave that to me," Quicksilver said.
The last word was barely out of his mouth before Charles found himself several blocks away, the night air cool against his face. Saitama and the others were already there as if they'd always been.
"All set," Quicksilver said lightly. "We—"
He flicked a glance at Magneto, then vanished in a blur, leaving the rest behind.
Saitama elbowed Magneto, teasing. "Hey, hey—feels like he's got something to do with you. Is he your kid or what?"
Magneto frowned and ignored the bait. "Who are you?"
"Me?" Saitama scratched his cheek. "Saitama. A hero for fun."
"'Hero'?" Magneto let out a cold laugh. "This world has no need of heroes."
"Is that so?" Saitama didn't argue. He had no interest in debating worldviews.
Charles spoke instead. "Whether saving you was right or wrong, I honestly don't know. Without Saitama, you'd still be buried in that cell. But first things first—we need to treat Hank."
He hauled Beast up, ready to get him to the safehouse he'd prepared. The wound looked terrible, but Hank was a physical-enhancement type; it wouldn't kill him.
Magneto's brow pinched. "So there was a reason for rescuing me. And here I thought your conscience had finally awakened."
He followed despite himself. He disliked Charles's principles, but he wasn't stupid: if they'd come for him, there was a purpose.
"Yes," Charles said, drawing a steadying breath. "There's a very specific reason. Otherwise, do you really think I'd rush to free the man who attempted to assassinate the President?"
"You think I assassinated the President?" Magneto's lip curled.
"You didn't?" Charles's tone went sharp. "In your eyes, mutants must stand above humans to 'succeed.' President Kennedy wanted to sign a coexistence treaty, and you—"
"Are you an idiot?" Magneto stepped in, posture coiling as if to strike. "I would never kill the President."
"But the bullet's trajectory bent mid-flight." Charles bristled. "Don't tell me there just happened to be someone with the exact same powers standing there."
"It's simple," Magneto said, exasperated. "I was trying to stop the kill shot. I failed. Then they arrested me. There was someone operating behind the scenes—obviously. That's all."
Charles frowned, silent, the answer lodging like a splinter in his thoughts.
(End of Chapter)
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